Cisco IOS Security Configuration Guide, Release 12.2 - Configuring Accounting [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline]

Table Of Contents

Configuring Accounting

In This Chapter

Named Method Lists for Accounting

Method Lists and Server Groups

AAA Accounting Methods

AAA Accounting Types

Network Accounting

Connection Accounting

EXEC Accounting

System Accounting

Command Accounting

Resource Accounting

AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

AAA Accounting Enhancements

AAA Broadcast Accounting

AAA Session MIB

AAA Accounting Prerequisites

AAA Accounting Configuration Task List

Configuring AAA Accounting Using Named Method Lists

Accounting Types

Accounting Record Types

Accounting Methods

Suppressing Generation of Accounting Records for Null Username Sessions

Generating Interim Accounting Records

Generating Accounting Records for Failed Login or Session

Specifying Accounting NETWORK-Stop Records Before EXEC-Stop Records

Configuring AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

Configuring AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting

Configuring Per-DNIS AAA Broadcast Accounting

Configuring AAA Session MIB

Monitoring Accounting

Troubleshooting Accounting

Accounting Attribute-Value Pairs

Accounting Configuration Examples

Configuring Named Method List Example

Configuring AAA Resource Accounting

Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

Configuring Per-DNIS AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

AAA Session MIB Example

Configuring Accounting

The AAA accounting feature enables you to track the services that users are accessing and the amount of network resources that they are consuming. When AAA accounting is enabled, the network access server reports user activity to the TACACS+ or RADIUS security server (depending on which security method you have implemented) in the form of accounting records. Each accounting record contains accounting attribute-value (AV) pairs and is stored on the security server. This data can then be analyzed for network management, client billing, and auditing.

For a complete description of the accounting commands used in this chapter, refer to the chapter "Accounting Commands" in the Cisco IOS Security Command Reference. To locate documentation of other commands that appear in this chapter, use the command reference master index or search online.

To identify the hardware platform or software image information associated with a feature, use the Feature Navigator on Cisco.com to search for information about the feature or refer to the software release notes for a specific release. For more information, see the chapter "Identifying Supported Platforms" section in the "Using Cisco IOS Software."

In This Chapter

This chapter contains the following sections:

•Named Method Lists for Accounting

•AAA Accounting Types

•AAA Accounting Enhancements

•AAA Accounting Prerequisites

•AAA Accounting Configuration Task List

•Accounting Attribute-Value Pairs

•Accounting Configuration Examples

Named Method Lists for Accounting

Like authentication and authorization method lists, method lists for accounting define the way accounting will be performed and the sequence in which these methods are performed.

Named accounting method lists enable you to designate a particular security protocol to be used on specific lines or interfaces for accounting services. The only exception is the default method list (which, by coincidence, is named "default"). The default method list is automatically applied to all interfaces except those that have a named method list explicitly defined. A defined method list overrides the default method list.

A method list is simply a named list describing the accounting methods to be queried (such as RADIUS or TACACS+), in sequence. Method lists enable you to designate one or more security protocols to be used for accounting, thus ensuring a backup system for accounting in case the initial method fails. Cisco IOS software uses the first method listed to support accounting; if that method fails to respond, the Cisco IOS software selects the next accounting method listed in the method list. This process continues until there is successful communication with a listed accounting method, or all methods defined are exhausted.

Note The Cisco IOS software attempts accounting with the next listed accounting method only when there is no response from the previous method. If accounting fails at any point in this cycle—meaning that the security server responds by denying the user access—the accounting process stops and no other accounting methods are attempted.

Accounting method lists are specific to the type of accounting being requested. AAA supports six different types of accounting:

•Network—Provides information for all PPP, SLIP, or ARAP sessions, including packet and byte counts.

•EXEC—Provides information about user EXEC terminal sessions of the network access server.

•Commands—Provides information about the EXEC mode commands that a user issues. Command accounting generates accounting records for all EXEC mode commands, including global configuration commands, associated with a specific privilege level.

•Connection—Provides information about all outbound connections made from the network access server, such as Telnet, local-area transport (LAT), TN3270, packet assembler/disassembler (PAD), and rlogin.

•System—Provides information about system-level events.

•Resource—Provides "start" and "stop" records for calls that have passed user authentication, and provides "stop" records for calls that fail to authenticate.

Note System accounting does not use named accounting lists; you can only define the default list for system accounting.

Once again, when you create a named method list, you are defining a particular list of accounting methods for the indicated accounting type.

Accounting method lists must be applied to specific lines or interfaces before any of the defined methods will be performed. The only exception is the default method list (which is named "default"). If the aaa accounting command for a particular accounting type is issued without a named method list specified, the default method list is automatically applied to all interfaces or lines except those that have a named method list explicitly defined. (A defined method list overrides the default method list.) If no default method list is defined, then no accounting takes place.

This section includes the following subsections:

•Method Lists and Server Groups

•AAA Accounting Methods

Method Lists and Server Groups

A server group is a way to group existing RADIUS or TACACS+ server hosts for use in method lists. Figure 7 shows a typical AAA network configuration that includes four security servers: R1 and R2 are RADIUS servers, and T1 and T2 are TACACS+ servers. R1 and R2 comprise the group of RADIUS servers. T1 and T2 comprise the group of TACACS+ servers.

Figure 7 Typical AAA Network Configuration

In Cisco IOS software, RADIUS and TACACS+ server configurations are global. Using server groups, you can specify a subset of the configured server hosts and use them for a particular service. For example, server groups allow you to define R1 and R2 as separate server groups (SG1 and SG2), and T1 and T2 as separate server groups (SG3 and SG4). This means you can specify either R1 and T1 (SG1 and SG3) in the method list or R2 and T2 (SG2 and SG4) in the method list, which provides more flexibility in the way that you assign RADIUS and TACACS+ resources.

Server groups also can include multiple host entries for the same server, as long as each entry has a unique identifier. The combination of an IP address and a UDP port number creates a unique identifier, allowing different ports to be individually defined as RADIUS hosts providing a specific AAA service. In other words, this unique identifier enables RADIUS requests to be sent to different UDP ports on a server at the same IP address. If two different host entries on the same RADIUS server are configured for the same service—for example, accounting—the second host entry configured acts as failover backup to the first one. Using this example, if the first host entry fails to provide accounting services, the network access server will try the second host entry configured on the same device for accounting services. (The RADIUS host entries will be tried in the order in which they are configured.)

For more information about configuring server groups and about configuring server groups based on DNIS numbers, refer to the chapter "Configuring RADIUS" or the chapter "Configuring TACACS+."

AAA Accounting Methods

Cisco IOS supports the following two methods for accounting:

•TACACS+—The network access server reports user activity to the TACACS+ security server in the form of accounting records. Each accounting record contains accounting attribute-value (AV) pairs and is stored on the security server.

•RADIUS—The network access server reports user activity to the RADIUS security server in the form of accounting records. Each accounting record contains accounting attribute-value (AV) pairs and is stored on the security server.

AAA Accounting Types

AAA supports six different accounting types:

•Network Accounting

•Connection Accounting

•EXEC Accounting

•System Accounting

•Command Accounting

•Resource Accounting

Network Accounting

Network accounting provides information for all PPP, SLIP, or ARAP sessions, including packet and byte counts.

The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS network accounting record for a PPP user who comes in through an EXEC session:
Wed Jun 27 04:44:45 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 5
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "562"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000D"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:45:00 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 5
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "562"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Framed
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000E"
        Framed-IP-Address = "10.1.1.2"
        Framed-Protocol = PPP
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:47:46 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 5
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "562"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Framed
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000E"
        Framed-IP-Address = "10.1.1.2"
        Framed-Protocol = PPP
        Acct-Input-Octets = 3075
        Acct-Output-Octets = 167
        Acct-Input-Packets = 39
        Acct-Output-Packets = 9
        Acct-Session-Time = 171
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:48:45 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 5
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "408"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000D"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ network accounting record for a PPP user who first started an EXEC session:
Wed Jun 27 04:00:35 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty4    562/4327528     starttask_id=28      
service=shell
Wed Jun 27 04:00:46 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty4 562/4327528     starttask_id=30      
addr=10.1.1.1   service=ppp
Wed Jun 27 04:00:49 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty4    408/4327528     update       
task_id=30      addr=10.1.1.1   service=ppp     protocol=ip     addr=10.1.1.1
Wed Jun 27 04:01:31 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty4    562/4327528     stoptask_id=30       
addr=10.1.1.1   service=ppp     protocol=ip     addr=10.1.1.1   bytes_in=2844        
bytes_out=1682  paks_in=36      paks_out=24     elapsed_time=51
Wed Jun 27 04:01:32 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty4    562/4327528     stoptask_id=28       
service=shell   elapsed_time=57
Note The precise format of accounting packets records may vary depending on your particular security server daemon.

The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS network accounting record for a PPP user who comes in through autoselect:
Wed Jun 27 04:30:52 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 3
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "562"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Framed
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000B"
        Framed-Protocol = PPP
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:36:49 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 3
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "562"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Framed
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000B"
        Framed-Protocol = PPP
        Framed-IP-Address = "10.1.1.1"
        Acct-Input-Octets = 8630
        Acct-Output-Octets = 5722
        Acct-Input-Packets = 94
        Acct-Output-Packets = 64
        Acct-Session-Time = 357
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ network accounting record for a PPP user who comes in through autoselect:
Wed Jun 27 04:02:19 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   Async5  562/4327528     starttask_id=35      
service=ppp
Wed Jun 27 04:02:25 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   Async5  562/4327528     update       
task_id=35      service=ppp     protocol=ip     addr=10.1.1.2
Wed Jun 27 04:05:03 2001 172.16.25.15    fgeorge   Async5  562/4327528     stoptask_id=35       
service=ppp     protocol=ip     addr=10.1.1.2   bytes_in=3366   bytes_out=2149       
paks_in=42      paks_out=28     elapsed_time=164
Connection Accounting

Connection accounting provides information about all outbound connections made from the network access server, such as Telnet, local-area transport (LAT), TN3270, packet assembler/disassembler (PAD), and rlogin.

The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS connection accounting record for an outbound Telnet connection:
Wed Jun 27 04:28:00 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 2
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329477"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Login
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000008"
        Login-Service = Telnet
        Login-IP-Host = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:28:39 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 2
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329477"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Login
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000008"
        Login-Service = Telnet
        Login-IP-Host = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Input-Octets = 10774
        Acct-Output-Octets = 112
        Acct-Input-Packets = 91
        Acct-Output-Packets = 99
        Acct-Session-Time = 39
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ connection accounting record for an outbound Telnet connection:
Wed Jun 27 03:47:43 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  
start    task_id=10      service=connection      protocol=telnet addr=171.68.202.158 
cmd=telnet fgeorge-sun
Wed Jun 27 03:48:38 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=10      service=connection      protocol=telnet addr=171.68.202.158 cmd=telnet 
fgeorge-sun     bytes_in=4467   bytes_out=96    paks_in=61      paks_out=72 
elapsed_time=55
The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS connection accounting record for an outbound rlogin connection:
Wed Jun 27 04:29:48 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 2
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329477"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Login
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000A"
        Login-Service = Rlogin
        Login-IP-Host = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:30:09 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 2
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329477"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Login
        Acct-Session-Id = "0000000A"
        Login-Service = Rlogin
        Login-IP-Host = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Input-Octets = 18686
        Acct-Output-Octets = 86
        Acct-Input-Packets = 90
        Acct-Output-Packets = 68
        Acct-Session-Time = 22
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ connection accounting record for an outbound rlogin connection:
Wed Jun 27 03:48:46 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  
start    task_id=12      service=connection      protocol=rlogin addr=171.68.202.158 
cmd=rlogin fgeorge-sun /user fgeorge
Wed Jun 27 03:51:37 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=12      service=connection      protocol=rlogin addr=171.68.202.158 cmd=rlogin 
fgeorge-sun /user fgeorge bytes_in=659926 bytes_out=138   paks_in=2378    paks_
out=1251        elapsed_time=171
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ connection accounting record for an outbound LAT connection:
Wed Jun 27 03:53:06 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  
start    task_id=18      service=connection      protocol=lat    addr=VAX        cmd=lat 
VAX
Wed Jun 27 03:54:15 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=18      service=connection      protocol=lat    addr=VAX        cmd=lat VAX  
bytes_in=0      bytes_out=0     paks_in=0      paks_out=0      elapsed_time=6
EXEC Accounting

EXEC accounting provides information about user EXEC terminal sessions (user shells) on the network access server, including username, date, start and stop times, the access server IP address, and (for dial-in users) the telephone number the call originated from.

The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS EXEC accounting record for a dial-in user:
Wed Jun 27 04:26:23 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 1
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329483"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000006"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:27:25 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 1
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Client-Port-DNIS = "4327528"
        Caller-ID = "5622329483"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000006"
        Acct-Session-Time = 62
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ EXEC accounting record for a dial-in user:
Wed Jun 27 03:46:21 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  
start    task_id=2       service=shell
Wed Jun 27 04:08:55 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=2       service=shell   elapsed_time=1354
The following example shows the information contained in a RADIUS EXEC accounting record for a Telnet user:
Wed Jun 27 04:48:32 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 26
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Caller-ID = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Status-Type = Start
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000010"
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
Wed Jun 27 04:48:46 2001
        NAS-IP-Address = "172.16.25.15"
        NAS-Port = 26
        User-Name = "fgeorge"
        Caller-ID = "171.68.202.158"
        Acct-Status-Type = Stop
        Acct-Authentic = RADIUS
        Service-Type = Exec-User
        Acct-Session-Id = "00000010"
        Acct-Session-Time = 14
        Acct-Delay-Time = 0
        User-Id = "fgeorge"
        NAS-Identifier = "172.16.25.15"
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ EXEC accounting record for a Telnet user:
Wed Jun 27 04:06:53 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty26   171.68.202.158  
starttask_id=41      service=shell
Wed Jun 27 04:07:02 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty26   171.68.202.158  
stoptask_id=41       service=shell   elapsed_time=9
System Accounting

System accounting provides information about all system-level events (for example, when the system reboots or when accounting is turned on or off).

The following accounting record shows a typical TACACS+ system accounting record server indicating that AAA accounting has been turned off:
Wed Jun 27 03:55:32 2001        172.16.25.15    unknown unknown unknown start   task_id=25   
service=system  event=sys_acct  reason=reconfigure
Note The precise format of accounting packets records may vary depending on your particular TACACS+ daemon.

The following accounting record shows a TACACS+ system accounting record indicating that AAA accounting has been turned on:
Wed Jun 27 03:55:22 2001        172.16.25.15    unknown unknown unknown stop    task_id=23   
service=system  event=sys_acct  reason=reconfigure
Additional tasks for measuring system resources are covered in other chapters in the Cisco IOS software configuration guides. For example, IP accounting tasks are described in the "Configuring IP Services" chapter in the Cisco IOS IP Configuration Guide.

Command Accounting

Command accounting provides information about the EXEC shell commands for a specified privilege level that are being executed on a network access server. Each command accounting record includes a list of the commands executed for that privilege level, as well as the date and time each command was executed, and the user who executed it.

The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ command accounting record for privilege level 1:
Wed Jun 27 03:46:47 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=3       service=shell   priv-lvl=1      cmd=show version <cr>
Wed Jun 27 03:46:58 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=4       service=shell   priv-lvl=1      cmd=show interfaces Ethernet 0 <cr>
Wed Jun 27 03:47:03 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=5       service=shell   priv-lvl=1      cmd=show ip route <cr>
The following example shows the information contained in a TACACS+ command accounting record for privilege level 15:
Wed Jun 27 03:47:17 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=6       service=shell   priv-lvl=15     cmd=configure terminal <cr>
Wed Jun 27 03:47:21 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=7       service=shell   priv-lvl=15     cmd=interface Serial 0 <cr>
Wed Jun 27 03:47:29 2001        172.16.25.15    fgeorge   tty3    5622329430/4327528  stop     
task_id=8       service=shell   priv-lvl=15     cmd=ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.0 <cr>
Note The Cisco Systems implementation of RADIUS does not support command accounting.

Resource Accounting

The Cisco implementation of AAA accounting provides "start" and "stop" record support for calls that have passed user authentication. The additional feature of generating "stop" records for calls that fail to authenticate as part of user authentication is also supported. Such records are necessary for users employing accounting records to manage and monitor their networks.

This section includes the following subsections:

•AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

•AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

Before AAA resource failure stop accounting, there was no method of providing accounting records for calls that failed to reach the user authentication stage of a call setup sequence. Such records are necessary for users employing accounting records to manage and monitor their networks and their wholesale customers.

This functionality will generate a "stop" accounting record for any calls that do not reach user authentication; "stop" records will be generated from the moment of call setup. All calls that pass user authentication will behave as before; that is, no additional accounting records will be seen.

Note For Cisco IOS Release 12.2, this function is supported only on the Cisco AS5300 and Cisco AS5800.

Figure 8 illustrates a call setup sequence with normal call flow (no disconnect) and without AAA resource failure stop accounting enabled.

Figure 8 Modem Dial-In Call Setup Sequence With Normal Flow and Without Resource Failure Stop Accounting Enabled

Figure 9 illustrates a call setup sequence with normal call flow (no disconnect) and with AAA resource failure stop accounting enabled.

Figure 9 Modem Dial-In Call Setup Sequence With Normal Flow and WIth Resource Failure Stop Accounting Enabled

Figure 10 illustrates a call setup sequence with call disconnect occurring before user authentication and with AAA resource failure stop accounting enabled.

Figure 10 Modem Dial-In Call Setup Sequence With Call Disconnect Occurring Before User Authentication and With Resource Failure Stop Accounting Enabled

Figure 11 illustrates a call setup sequence with call disconnect occurring before user authentication and without AAA resource failure stop accounting enabled.

Figure 11 Modem Dial-In Call Setup Sequence With Call Disconnect Occurring Before User Authentication and Without Resource Failure Stop Accounting Enabled

AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

AAA resource accounting for start-stop records supports the ability to send a "start" record at each call setup, followed by a corresponding "stop" record at the call disconnect. This functionality can be used to manage and monitor wholesale customers from one source of data reporting, such as accounting records.

With this feature, a call setup and call disconnect "start-stop" accounting record tracks the progress of the resource connection to the device. A separate user authentication "start-stop" accounting record tracks the user management progress. These two sets of accounting records are interlinked by using a unique session ID for the call.

Note For Cisco IOS Release 12.2, this function is supported only on the Cisco AS5300 and Cisco AS5800.

Figure 12 illustrates a call setup sequence with AAA resource start-stop accounting enabled.

Figure 12 Modem Dial-In Call Setup Sequence With Resource Start-Stop Accounting Enabled

AAA Accounting Enhancements

The section includes the following enhancements:

•AAA Broadcast Accounting

•AAA Session MIB

AAA Broadcast Accounting

AAA broadcast accounting allows accounting information to be sent to multiple AAA servers at the same time; that is, accounting information can be broadcast to one or more AAA servers simultaneously. This functionality allows service providers to send accounting information to their own private AAA servers and to the AAA servers of their end customers. It also provides redundant billing information for voice applications.

Restrictions

•Accounting information can be sent simultaneously to a maximum of four AAA servers.

•SSG Restriction—For SSG systems, the aaa acounting network broadcast command broadcasts only start-stop accounting records. If interim accounting records are configured using the
ssg accounting interval command, the interim accounting records are sent only to the configured default RADIUS server.

Broadcasting is allowed among groups of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers, and each server group can define its backup servers for failover independently of other groups.

Thus, service providers and their end customers can use different protocols (RADIUS or TACACS+) for the accounting server. Service providers and their end customers can also specify their backup servers independently. As for voice applications, redundant accounting information can be managed independently through a separate group with its own failover sequence.

AAA Session MIB

The AAA session MIB feature allows customers to monitor and terminate their authenticated client connections using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The data of the client is presented so that it correlates directly to the AAA accounting information reported by either the RADIUS or the TACACS+ server. AAA session MIB provides the following information:

•Statistics for each AAA function (when used in conjunction with the show radius statistics command)

•Status of servers providing AAA functions

•Identities of external AAA servers

•Real-time information (such as idle times), providing additional criteria for use by SNMP networks for assessing whether or not to terminate an active call

Note This command is supported only on Cisco AS5300 and Cisco AS5800 universal access server platforms.

Table 10 shows the SNMP user-end data objects that can be used to monitor and terminate authenticated client connections with the AAA session MIB feature.

Table 10 SNMP End-User Data Objects

SessionId

The session identification used by the AAA accounting protocol (same value as reported by RADIUS attribute 44 (Acct-Session-ID)).

UserId

The user login ID or zero-length string if a login is unavailable.

IpAddr

The IP address of the session or 0.0.0.0 if an IP address is not applicable or unavailable.

IdleTime

The elapsed time in seconds that the session has been idle.

Disconnect

The session termination object used to disconnect the given client.

CallId

The entry index corresponding to this accounting session that the Call Tracker record stored.

Table 11 describes the AAA summary information provided by the AAA session MIB feature using SNMP on a per-system basis.

Table 11 SNMP AAA Session Summary

ActiveTableEntries

Number of sessions currently active.

ActiveTableHighWaterMark

Maximum number of sessions present at once since last system reinstallation.

TotalSessions

Total number of sessions since last system reinstallation.

DisconnectedSessions

Total number of sessions that have been disconnected using since last system reinstallation.

AAA Accounting Prerequisites

Before configuring accounting using named method lists, you must first perform the following tasks:

•Enable AAA on your network access server. For more information about enabling AAA on your Cisco router or access server, refer to the chapter "AAA Overview".

•Define the characteristics of your RADIUS or TACACS+ security server if you are issuing RADIUS or TACACS+ authorization. For more information about configuring your Cisco network access server to communicate with your RADIUS security server, refer to the chapter "Configuring RADIUS". For more information about configuring your Cisco network access server to communicate with your TACACS+ security server, refer to the chapter "Configuring TACACS+".

AAA Accounting Configuration Task List

This section describes the following configuration tasks:

•Configuring AAA Accounting Using Named Method Lists

•Suppressing Generation of Accounting Records for Null Username Sessions

•Generating Interim Accounting Records

•Generating Accounting Records for Failed Login or Session

•Specifying Accounting NETWORK-Stop Records Before EXEC-Stop Records

•Configuring AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

•Configuring AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

•Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting

•Configuring AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

•Configuring AAA Session MIB

•Monitoring Accounting

•Troubleshooting Accounting

For accounting configuration examples using the commands in this chapter, refer to the section "Accounting Configuration Examples" at the end of the this chapter.

Configuring AAA Accounting Using Named Method Lists

To configure AAA accounting using named method lists, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# aaa accounting {system | network | exec | connection | commands level} {default | list-name} {start-stop | stop-only | none} [method1 [method2...]]

Creates an accounting method list and enables accounting. The argument list-name is a character string used to name the list you are creating.
Step 2
Router(config)# line [aux | console | tty | vty] line-number [ending-line-number]
or
Router(config)# interface interface-type interface-number
Enters the line configuration mode for the lines to which you want to apply the accounting method list.

or

Enters the interface configuration mode for the interfaces to which you want to apply the accounting method list.
Step 3
Router(config-line)# accounting {arap | commands level | connection | exec} {default | list-name}
or
Router(config-if)# ppp accounting {default | list-name}
Applies the accounting method list to a line or set of lines.

or

Applies the accounting method list to an interface or set of interfaces.
Note System accounting does not use named method lists. For system accounting, you can define only the default method list.

This section includes the following sections:

•Accounting Types

•Accounting Record Types

•Accounting Methods

Accounting Types

Named accounting method lists are specific to the indicated type of accounting.

•network—To create a method list to enable authorization for all network-related service requests (including SLIP, PPP, PPP NCPs, and ARA protocols), use the network keyword. For example, to create a method list that provides accounting information for ARAP (network) sessions, use the arap keyword.

•exec—To create a method list that provides accounting records about user EXEC terminal sessions on the network access server, including username, date, start and stop times, use the exec keyword.

•commands—To create a method list that provides accounting information about specific, individual EXEC commands associated with a specific privilege level, use the commands keyword.

•connection—To create a method list that provides accounting information about all outbound connections made from the network access server, use the connection keyword.

•resource—Creates a method list to provide accounting records for calls that have passed user authentication or calls that failed to be authenticated.

Note System accounting does not support named method lists.

Accounting Record Types

For minimal accounting, use the stop-only keyword, which instructs the specified method (RADIUS or TACACS+) to send a stop record accounting notice at the end of the requested user process. For more accounting information, use the start-stop keyword to send a start accounting notice at the beginning of the requested event and a stop accounting notice at the end of the event. To stop all accounting activities on this line or interface, use the none keyword.

Accounting Methods

Table 12 lists the supported accounting methods.

Table 12 AAA Accounting Methods

Keyword

Description

group radius

Uses the list of all RADIUS servers for accounting.

group tacacs+

Uses the list of all TACACS+ servers for accounting.

group group-name

Uses a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers for accounting as defined by the server group group-name.

The method argument refers to the actual method the authentication algorithm tries. Additional methods of authentication are used only if the previous method returns an error, not if it fails. To specify that the authentication should succeed even if all other methods return an error, specify additional methods in the command. For example, to create a method list named acct_tac1 that specifies RADIUS as the backup method of authentication in the event that TACACS+ authentication returns an error, enter the following command:
aaa accounting network acct_tac1 stop-only group tacacs+ group radius
To create a default list that is used when a named list is not specified in the aaa accounting command, use the default keyword followed by the methods you want used in default situations. The default method list is automatically applied to all interfaces.

For example, to specify RADIUS as the default method for user authentication during login, enter the following command:
aaa accounting network default stop-only group radius
AAA accounting supports the following methods:

•group tacacs—To have the network access server send accounting information to a TACACS+ security server, use the group tacacs+ method keyword. For more specific information about configuring TACACS+ for accounting services, refer to the chapter "Configuring TACACS+".

•group radius—To have the network access server send accounting information to a RADIUS security server, use the group radius method keyword. For more specific information about configuring RADIUS for accounting services, refer to the chapter "Configuring RADIUS".

Note Accounting method lists for SLIP follow whatever is configured for PPP on the relevant interface. If no lists are defined and applied to a particular interface (or no PPP settings are configured), the default setting for accounting applies.

•group group-name—To specify a subset of RADIUS or TACACS+ servers to use as the accounting method, use the aaa accounting command with the group group-name method. To specify and define the group name and the members of the group, use the aaa group server command. For example, use the aaa group server command to first define the members of group loginrad:
aaa group server radius loginrad
 server 172.16.2.3
 server 172.16.2 17
 server 172.16.2.32
This command specifies RADIUS servers 172.16.2.3, 172.16.2.17, and 172.16.2.32 as members of the group loginrad.

To specify group loginrad as the method of network accounting when no other method list has been defined, enter the following command:
aaa accounting network default start-stop group loginrad
Before you can use a group name as the accounting method, you need to enable communication with the RADIUS or TACACS+ security server. For more information about establishing communication with a RADIUS server, refer to the chapter "Configuring RADIUS". For more information about establishing communication with a TACACS+ server, refer to the chapter "Configuring TACACS+".

Suppressing Generation of Accounting Records for Null Username Sessions

When AAA accounting is activated, the Cisco IOS software issues accounting records for all users on the system, including users whose username string, because of protocol translation, is NULL. An example of this is users who come in on lines where the aaa authentication login method-list none command is applied. To prevent accounting records from being generated for sessions that do not have usernames associated with them, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting suppress null-username

Prevents accounting records from being generated for users whose username string is NULL.

Generating Interim Accounting Records

To enable periodic interim accounting records to be sent to the accounting server, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting update {[newinfo] [periodic] number}

Enables periodic interim accounting records to be sent to the accounting server.

When the aaa accounting update command is activated, the Cisco IOS software issues interim accounting records for all users on the system. If the keyword newinfo is used, interim accounting records will be sent to the accounting server every time there is new accounting information to report. An example of this would be when IPCP completes IP address negotiation with the remote peer. The interim accounting record will include the negotiated IP address used by the remote peer.

When used with the keyword periodic, interim accounting records are sent periodically as defined by the argument number. The interim accounting record contains all of the accounting information recorded for that user up to the time the interim accounting record is sent.

Caution Using the aaa accounting update periodic command can cause heavy congestion when many users are logged in to the network.

Generating Accounting Records for Failed Login or Session

When AAA accounting is activated, the Cisco IOS software does not generate accounting records for system users who fail login authentication, or who succeed in login authentication but fail PPP negotiation for some reason.

To specify that accounting stop records be generated for users who fail to authenticate at login or during session negotiation, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting send stop-record authentication failure

Generates "stop" records for users who fail to authenticate at login or during session negotiation using PPP.

Specifying Accounting NETWORK-Stop Records Before EXEC-Stop Records

For PPP users who start EXEC terminal sessions, you can specify that NETWORK records be generated before EXEC-stop records. In some cases, such as billing customers for specific services, is can be desirable to keep network start and stop records together, essentially "nesting" them within the framework of the EXEC start and stop messages. For example, a user dialing in using PPP can create the following records: EXEC-start, NETWORK-start, EXEC-stop, NETWORK-stop. By nesting the accounting records, NETWORK-stop records follow NETWORK-start messages: EXEC-start, NETWORK-start, NETWORK-stop, EXEC-stop.

To nest accounting records for user sessions, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting nested

Nests network accounting records.

Configuring AAA Resource Failure Stop Accounting

To enable resource failure stop accounting, use the following command in global configuration:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting resource method-list stop-failure group server-group

Generates a "stop" record for any calls that do not reach user authentication.

Note Before configuring this feature, you must first perform the tasks described in the section "AAA Accounting Prerequisites" and enable Simple Network Management Protocol on your network access server. For more information about enabling SNMP on your Cisco router or access server, refer to the chapter "Configuring SNMP" of the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide.

Configuring AAA Resource Accounting for Start-Stop Records

To enable full resource accounting for start-stop records, use the following command in global configuration mode:

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting resource method-list start-stop group server-group

Supports the ability to send a "start" record at each call setup. followed with a corresponding "stop" record at the call disconnect.

Note Before configuring this feature, you must first perform the tasks described in "AAA Accounting Prerequisites" and enable Simple Network Management Protocol on your network access server. For more information about enabling SNMP on your Cisco router or access server, refer to the chapter "Configuring SNMP" chapter of the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide.

Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting

To configure AAA broadcast accounting, use the aaa accounting command in global configuration mode. This command has been modified to allow the broadcast keyword.

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa accounting {system | network | exec | connection | commands level} {default | list-name} {start-stop | stop-only | none} [broadcast] method1 [method2...]

Enables sending accounting records to multiple AAA servers. Simultaneously sends accounting records to the first server in each group. If the first server is unavailable, failover occurs using the backup servers defined within that group.

Configuring Per-DNIS AAA Broadcast Accounting

To configure AAA broadcast accounting per Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS), use the aaa dnis map accounting network command in global configuration mode. This command has been modified to allow the broadcast keyword and multiple server groups.

Command

Purpose

Router(config)# aaa dnis map dnis-number accounting network [start-stop | stop-only | none] [broadcast] method1 [method2...]

Allows per-DNIS accounting configuration. This command has precedence over the global aaa accounting command.

Enables sending accounting records to multiple AAA servers. Simultaneously sends accounting records to the first server in each group. If the first server is unavailable, failover occurs using the backup servers defined within that group.

Configuring AAA Session MIB

Before configuring the AAA session MIB feature, you must perform the following tasks:

•Configure SNMP. For information on SNMP, see the chapter "Configuring SNMP Support" of the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide.

•Configure AAA.

•Define the characteristics of your RADIUS or TACACS+ server.

Note Overusing SNMP can affect the overall performance of your system; therefore, normal network management performance must be considered when this feature is used.

To configure AAA session MIB, use the following command in global configuration mode

:

Command

Purpose

Step 1

Router(config)# aaa session-mib disconnect

Monitors and terminates authenticated client connections using SNMP.

To terminate the call, the disconnect keyword must be used.

Monitoring Accounting

No specific show command exists for either RADIUS or TACACS+ accounting. To obtain accounting records displaying information about users currently logged in, use the following command in privileged EXEC mode:

Command

Purpose

Router# show accounting

Allows display of the active accountable events on the network and helps collect information in the event of a data loss on the accounting server.

Troubleshooting Accounting

To troubleshoot accounting information, use the following command in privileged EXEC mode:

Command

Purpose

Router# debug aaa accounting

Displays information on accountable events as they occur.

Accounting Attribute-Value Pairs

The network access server monitors the accounting functions defined in either TACACS+ attribute-value (AV) pairs or RADIUS attributes, depending on which security method you have implemented. For a list of supported RADIUS accounting attributes, refer to the appendix "RADIUS Attributes." For a list of supported TACACS+ accounting AV pairs, refer to the appendix "TACACS+ Attribute-Value Pairs."

Accounting Configuration Examples

This section contains the following examples:

•Configuring Named Method List Example

•Configuring AAA Resource Accounting

•Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

•Configuring Per-DNIS AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

•AAA Session MIB Example

Configuring Named Method List Example

The following example shows how to configure a Cisco AS5200 (enabled for AAA and communication with a RADIUS security server) in order for AAA services to be provided by the RADIUS server. If the RADIUS server fails to respond, then the local database will be queried for authentication and authorization information, and accounting services will be handled by a TACACS+ server.
aaa new-model
aaa authentication login admins local
aaa authentication ppp dialins goup radius local
aaa authorization network scoobee group radius local
aaa accounting network charley start-stop group radius group tacacs+
username root password ALongPassword
tacacs-server host 172.31.255.0
tacacs-server key goaway
radius-server host 172.16.2.7
radius-server key myRaDiUSpassWoRd
interface group-async 1
 group-range 1 16
 encapsulation ppp
 ppp authentication chap dialins
 ppp authorization scoobee
 ppp accounting charley
line 1 16
 autoselect ppp
 autoselect during-login
 login authentication admins
 modem dialin
The lines in this sample RADIUS AAA configuration are defined as follows:

•The aaa new-model command enables AAA network security services.

•The aaa authentication login admins local command defines a method list, "admins", for login authentication.

•The aaa authentication ppp dialins group radius local command defines the authentication method list "dialins", which specifies that first RADIUS authentication and then (if the RADIUS server does not respond) local authentication will be used on serial lines using PPP.

•The aaa authorization network scoobee group radius local command defines the network authorization method list named "scoobee", which specifies that RADIUS authorization will be used on serial lines using PPP. If the RADIUS server fails to respond, then local network authorization will be performed.

•The aaa accounting network charley start-stop group radius group tacacs+ command defines the network accounting method list named charley, which specifies that RADIUS accounting services (in this case, start and stop records for specific events) will be used on serial lines using PPP. If the RADIUS server fails to respond, accounting services will be handled by a TACACS+ server.

•The username command defines the username and password to be used for the PPP Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) caller identification.

•The tacacs-server host command defines the name of the TACACS+ server host.

•The tacacs-server key command defines the shared secret text string between the network access server and the TACACS+ server host.

•The radius-server host command defines the name of the RADIUS server host.

•The radius-server key command defines the shared secret text string between the network access server and the RADIUS server host.

•The interface group-async command selects and defines an asynchronous interface group.

•The group-range command defines the member asynchronous interfaces in the interface group.

•The encapsulation ppp command sets PPP as the encapsulation method used on the specified interfaces.

•The ppp authentication chap dialins command selects Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) as the method of PPP authentication and applies the "dialins" method list to the specified interfaces.

•The ppp authorization scoobee command applies the scoobee network authorization method list to the specified interfaces.

•The ppp accounting charley command applies the charley network accounting method list to the specified interfaces.

•The line command switches the configuration mode from global configuration to line configuration and identifies the specific lines being configured.

•The autoselect ppp command configures the Cisco IOS software to allow a PPP session to start up automatically on these selected lines.

•The autoselect during-login command is used to display the username and password prompt without pressing the Return key. After the user logs in, the autoselect function (in this case, PPP) begins.

•The login authentication admins command applies the admins method list for login authentication.

•The modem dialin command configures modems attached to the selected lines to only accept incoming calls.

The show accounting command yields the following output for the preceding configuration:
Active Accounted actions on tty1, User rubble Priv 1
 Task ID 5, Network Accounting record, 00:00:52 Elapsed
 task_id=5 service=ppp protocol=ip address=10.0.0.98 
Table 13 describes the fields contained in the preceding output.

Table 13 show accounting Field Descriptions

Field

Description

Active Accounted actions on

Terminal line or interface name user with which the user logged in.

User

User's ID.

Priv

User's privilege level.

Task ID

Unique identifier for each accounting session.

Accounting Record

Type of accounting session.

Elapsed

Length of time (hh:mm:ss) for this session type.

attribute=value

AV pairs associated with this accounting session.

Configuring AAA Resource Accounting

The following example shows how to configure the resource failure stop accounting and resource accounting for start-stop records functions:
!Enable AAA on your network access server.
aaa new-model
!Enable authentication at login and list the AOL string name to use for login 
authentication.
aaa authentication login AOL group radius local
!Enable authentication for ppp and list the default method to use for PPP authentication.
aaa authentication ppp default group radius local
!Enable authorization for all exec sessions and list the AOL string name to use for 
authorization.
aaa authorization exec AOL group radius if-authenticated
!Enable authorization for all network-related service requests and list the default method 
to use for all network-related authorizations.
aaa authorization network default group radius if-authenticated
!Enable accounting for all exec sessions and list the default method to use for all 
start-stop accounting services.
aaa accounting exec default start-stop group radius
!Enable accounting for all network-related service requests and list the default method to 
use for all start-stop accounting services. 
aaa accounting network default start-stop group radius
!Enable failure stop accounting.
aaa accounting resource default stop-failure group radius
!Enable resource accounting for start-stop records.
aaa accounting resource default start-stop group radius 
Configuring AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

The following example shows how to turn on broadcast accounting using the global aaa accounting command:
aaa group server radius isp
 server 1.0.0.1
 server 1.0.0.2
aaa group server tacacs+ isp_customer
 server 3.0.0.1
aaa accounting network default start-stop broadcast group isp group isp_customer
radius-server host 1.0.0.1
radius-server host 1.0.0.2
radius-server key key1
tacacs-server host 3.0.0.1 key key2
The broadcast keyword causes "start" and "stop" accounting records for network connections to be sent simultaneously to server 1.0.0.1 in the group isp and to server 3.0.0.1 in the group isp_customer. If server 1.0.0.1 is unavailable, failover to server 1.0.0.2 occurs. If server 3.0.0.1 is unavailable, no failover occurs because backup servers are not configured for the group isp_customer.

Configuring Per-DNIS AAA Broadcast Accounting Example

The following example shows how to turn on per DNIS broadcast accounting using the global aaa dnis map accounting network command:
aaa group server radius isp
 server 1.0.0.1
 server 1.0.0.2
aaa group server tacacs+ isp_customer
 server 3.0.0.1
aaa dnis map enable
aaa dnis map 7777 accounting network start-stop broadcast group isp group isp_customer
radius-server host 1.0.0.1
radius-server host 1.0.0.2
radius-server key key_1
tacacs-server host 3.0.0.1 key key_2
The broadcast keyword causes "start" and "stop" accounting records for network connection calls having DNIS number 7777 to be sent simultaneously to server 1.0.0.1 in the group isp and to server 3.0.0.1 in the group isp_customer. If server 1.0.0.1 is unavailable, failover to server 1.0.0.2 occurs. If server 3.0.0.1 is unavailable, no failover occurs because backup servers are not configured for the group isp_customer.

AAA Session MIB Example

The following example shows how to set up the AAA session MIB feature to disconnect authenticated client connections for PPP users:
aaa new-model 
aaa authentication ppp default group radius
aaa authorization network default group radius
aaa accounting network default start-stop group radius
aaa session-mib disconnect